Interview: Charles Edwards

TC: Is this your first time working in Australia?

CE: Yes! I'm very excited about it and I'm very excited to be doing this musical and this character. For me taking over the role from Alan and having the time and space between the show finishing in Sydney and recommencing in Brisbane, without being rushed is a blessing. It will give the cast and myself the opportunity to work together and find our rhythm.

TC: As a classically trained actor how do you feel about doing a musical?

CE: I trained of Guildhall school of Music and Drama and we concentrated very much on a lot of musicals as well as classical theatre and I always felt at home doing them. It was only entering the professional world where I watch singers and musical actors and think I simply couldn't do that so I have focused all of my energies solely into acting.

TC: Talk to me about the character of Henry Higgins

CE: Whenever I have heard Julie Andrews speak about the musical she's always gone to pains to mention Bernard Shaw. When I looked at the script of the musical I was so heartened to see so much of the script from the play in it. I feel at home with Bernard Shaw with the speed of thinking and I enjoy the mouthy very full of themselves characters who get their just desserts at the end.

TC: You've worked with some very famous ladies

CE: All these dames! Angela Lansbury, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and now Julie Andrews...It's a real thrill and a real buzz and when I first heard of this production of My Fair Lady happening without my involvement I thought wow that sounds so amazing. Alex Jennings who is currently playing the role and I were doing a TV series together and his character died and I was asking him what he was going onto next and he said My Fair Lady in Australia with Julie Andrews and I though my God how fantastic and now here I am which is very very exciting.